USPF Baby Panthers back on track in Cesafi HS volleyball

A CIT-U Wildcat tries to slam the ball in their game against CDU in the Cesafi 2018 volleyball tournament at the University of San Carlos gym.
(CDN PHOTO LITO TECSON)

The University of the Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers made a comeback from their first loss by defeating the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars in the girls division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) Volleyball Tournament 2018 yesterday at the University of San Carlos (USC) gym in Sanciangko Street, Cebu City.

The Baby Panthers swept the Baby Jaguars with the score of 25-23 on the first set and 25-16 on the second.

“The players really did their best,” USPF girls volleyball head coach Rizzari Yolanda said. “All of them worked together that is why we succeeded in winning the match,” she added.

The USPF is last season’s champion in the girls division after they won against Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Baby Cobras, 23-25, 25-15, 25-12, 25-23.

“So far, I can say that the USJ-R is our toughest opponent this season,” Yolanda stated.

“And I am very glad that we did defeat them today.”

Prior to their bout yesterday, the USPF got defeated by USC during the Cesafi opening, 24-26, 25-16, 9-25, which was, according to Yolanda, a result of overconfidence from her team.

“We want to make it up on the next match we have against the Warriors,” Yolanda shared.

“We will try our best to defeat them.”

For this season, two volleybelles of USPF moved up to the higher levels.

However, they are replaced with six freshmen.

“We worked more on intensifying our trainings,” said Yolanda.

“At the same time building up the team’s chemistry,” she added.

“We want to defend our crown. We want to be champion again,” Yolanda said when asked what she is looking forward to.

In the other girls division games, Ateneo defeated Cebu Eastern College (CEC), 25-3, 25-10, while the University of Cebu (UC) won against Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU), 25-10, 25-10.

For the boys division, USJ-R ruled over Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC), 25-10, 25-16; USPF defeated Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U), 25-10, 25-18; UC crushed CDU, 25-8, 25-20.

Lastly, CIT-U swept CDU, 25-6, 25-9, 25-19 while USJ-R defeated University of the Visayas, 20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-14, in the men’s division.